Vehicle Sensor Cleaner Sequencing for Reliable LiDAR and Camera Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cleaner systems face challenges in maintaining sensor cleanliness while ensuring reliable vehicle control, particularly for LiDAR and cameras, as simultaneous cleaning of multiple sensors complicates vehicle control and can result in low-reliability information due to cleaning liquids being discharged onto lenses or camera covers, leading to unintended operations and potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cleaner system with a cleaner control unit that coordinates the operation of multiple sensor cleaners to avoid simultaneous cleaning, prioritizing critical sensors like LiDAR and cameras to maintain accurate information and prevent unwanted liquid discharge, incorporating a user-switchable power-off option to prevent accidental operations near people.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple sensors are cleaned simultaneously, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but vehicle control reliability deteriorates due to unclear sensor information
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning operation is segmented into sequential phases rather than simultaneous execution. The control unit divides the cleaning process into individual sensor cleaning steps, ensuring that sensors are cleaned one after another instead of all at once, thus maintaining at least one functional sensor for vehicle control at any given time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of sensor dirtiness levels before initiating cleaning. The control unit evaluates which sensors require cleaning and plans the cleaning sequence in advance, prioritizing critical sensors and scheduling non-critical sensor cleaning during periods when vehicle control can maintain reliability with remaining clean sensors.
2Manufacturing precision
If cleaning liquid is discharged to clean sensors, then sensor cleanliness is improved, but information reliability deteriorates temporarily during cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning operation is implemented as periodic rather than continuous, with intermittent pauses that allow sensors to clear cleaning liquid and resume normal sensing functions. The control unit activates cleaning cycles periodically and includes intervals between cleaning different sensors, allowing the system to transition between cleaning states and operational states.
3Ease of operation
If the cleaner operates automatically based on predetermined conditions, then user operation burden is reduced, but unintended operations may occur when not desired by user
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control unit continuously monitors sensor conditions, cleaning liquid discharge status, and operational context to dynamically adjust cleaning operations. The cleaner responds to real-time feedback about whether cleaning is actually needed and whether conditions are safe for cleaning, rather than operating on fixed predetermined schedules alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning operation parameters are made dynamic rather than static. The control unit adjusts cleaning activation, intensity, and timing based on real-time sensor dirtiness detection, vehicle operating conditions, and environmental factors, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and avoid unintended operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures high-reliability vehicle control by keeping sensors clean, reducing operation burdens on users, and preventing accidental liquid discharge, thereby enhancing safety and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaner that cleans the sensors has been required
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a vehicle cleaner system (100) including: a plurality of cleaners (103 to 106, 109a, 109b) capable of respectively cleaning a plurality of sensors which are configured such that at least one of a detection method, an object to be detected, a detection direction, and a detection timing is different among the sensors; and a cleaner control unit (116) configured to operate the plurality of cleaners (103 to 106, 109) according to a signal to be input. The cleaner control unit (116) is configured to perform control so that not all of the cleaners (103 to 106, 109) are operated at the same time.